Top 5 Effective Ways to Prevent Diabetes in Children

All parents want to protect their kids from as many ailments as possible. Still, it’s so easy to overlook your child’s state of intruding on one of the life-threatening diseases i.e., Diabetes. As we all are aware diabetes is a disease that can affect various organs of the body like the eyes, heart, kidneys, feet, and nerves because of the presence of excess sugar in the blood. People who are diagnosed with diabetes are either unable to produce insulin or the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas don’t work as they should.

Earlier diabetes used to occur only in adults but nowadays due to obesity and sedentary lifestyle diabetes has become prevalent in kids and teens. It gets especially tough to protect your child when diabetes is already in the family history. Being a parent, you can help, guide, and support your child so that he/she may never get diabetes.

How to Prevent Diabetes in Children?

Here are some important ways to prevent diabetes in young children:

1. Mealtime makeover

Always offer sensible portion sizes to your munchkin. Encourage your child to eat nutrient-rich foods like lean proteins, fresh fruits, seasonal vegetables, dry fruits, nuts, seeds, low-fat dairy products, whole-grain cereals, and slices of brown or atta bread. Serve at least five healthy small meals to your child instead of three big meals. You should also prefer steaming, grilling, boiling and roasting food instead of deep frying it. Avoid offering junk foods, processed foods and sugary and oily foods to your child.

2. Getting active

Instead of wasting hours sitting in front of the television, laptop, or tablet, you must make sure your child is indulging in some form of sport or physical activity. You can ask your child to take the pet out for a walk. Encourage your child to help you with daily chores like gardening, vacuuming, and arranging the table for the meal. No matter how hectic the day is you should not compromise on your child’s physical activity session. Try new things and make physical activities more fun.

3. Make healthy choices

Try to limit your family visits to fast-food restaurants. You should also encourage your child to go for regular medical checkups. Connect with a certified nutritionist/dietician or paediatrician to create a healthy balanced meal plan for your child. Do not let your child sit in one place for too long. Plan active outings with family instead of going to cinema halls. Arrange parent and kid fitness classes together. Ask your child to join you for grocery shopping and lift some light bags. Calm your child and guide him/her on how to undergo a blood glucose level checkup.

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4. Maintain a moderate body weight

Most parents don't seem to mind if their child puts on weight but after a point of time, excessive weight gain or fat can be a serious health concern. If your child is obese or overweight, losing weight can automatically reduce the risk of diabetes in him/her. Ask your child to keep television and smartphones away from the dining table. Do not let your child drink aerated beverages or packaged juices as they are harmful to your child’s fragile digestive system.

5. Offer plenty of fluids

Along with water, you must encourage your child to drink buttermilk, fresh fruit juices, and coconut water. You should limit your child's and your own consumption of sugary drinks. Additionally, you should instruct your child to avoid drinking anything along with their meals as that can slow their metabolism.

Final Thoughts

Prevention is better than cure. By following the above-mentioned tips and adopting healthy habits in life, you can help prevent diabetes from harming your little one's health and life. After all, a healthy start to life is something every child deserves.